Testosterone may be love as a male sex hormone , but women need it , too . Testosterone is part of what drives distaff desire , fantasy , and thoughts about sexual practice . It also plays a role in ovarian function , ivory metier , and the overall well - being of woman , saysKelli Burroughs , MD , an obstetrician - gynecologist at Memorial Hermann in Houston . Yet while your testosterone tier plays a cardinal role in yoursex ride , taking it in supplement form to treatlow libidoremains controversial .
Here ’s what medico be intimate about testosterone ’s office in low-pitched libido in fair sex and how the hormone might be used as a discussion .
Testosterone Helps Fuel Our Sex Drive
Women ’s testosterone levelsgradually go down as they age , and lower amounts of the internal secretion can also reduce muscle passel , affect wasted health , impact mood , cause weariness , and lessen sensitivity in thevaginaand clitoris , which affects libido , Dr. Burroughs say .
A drop intestosterone levelsis believed to be the reason sex drive goes downafter menopause , according to theNorth American Menopause Society .
Research Remains Unclear
Although it ’s common for men to taketestosterone to treat abject libido , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has n’t approvedtestosterone replacement therapyfor adult female . Some doctors do prescribe it for women as an off - recording label role , notesJenna M. Turocy , MD , an ob - gyn at NewYork - Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City . “ These product let in testosterone peel patches , colloidal gel , creams or unguent , pills , implants , and injections , often design and government - approved for human beings , ” Dr. Turocy say .
Testosterone doses provided by these formulations generally are much too high for female , so woman are given a fraction ( usually one - tenth ) of the superman that men are order , notesBarbara Schroeder , MD , an assistant professor and Ob River - gyn with UTHealth Houston .
“ There is no dose that we can say is absolutely safe for char , ” she explains . “ There are no with child randomize trials that have face at this . ” That ’s why Dr. Schroeder says to check baseline testosterone levels and re - check them every three to six months to verify they ’re not too gamey . “ The goal is to draw a bead on for testosterone story that are in the normal premenopausal range , ” she add .
Still , testosterone supplementation for women with low sexual activity crusade is rarely recommended in the United States , specially for premenopausal females , given the modified data on safety and efficaciousness , Turocy explain .
One of the main issues is that testosterone has side effects . Acne and hair growth at the app program site are the most common , Schroeder says . Changes in your voice , free weight amplification , tomentum loss , buttery tegument , climate change , and an enlarged clit , may also go on , Turocy lend .
But the biggest vexation regard testosterone ’s foresighted - term safety in women , as no robust scientific subject field have looked at potential live effects .
In a review of 36 randomized controlled trialspublished in theLancet Diabetes & Endocrinologyin October 2019 , research worker determined that testosterone therapy is effective at increasing sexual map in post - menopausal woman . They noted that when taken orally , testosterone was linked to significant increases in LDL , or “ bad ” cholesterin , and diminution in total cholesterol , HDL , or “ good ” cholesterin , and triglycerides . These effects were not escort with testosterone bandage or creams . More significantly , the researchers concluded that “ information are insufficient to draw conclusions about the effect of testosterone on musculoskeletal , cognitive , and genial wellness and long - term safety and manipulation in premenopausal cleaning woman . ”
What Else May Help With Low Libido
If you have low libido , testosterone may help , but it ’s important to weigh the benefits with the endangerment . experience that there are other options that may be beneficial .
“ If implicated about low sex drive , womanhood should consult a learned health care supplier who can evaluate their private medical history , symptoms , and endocrine levels , ” Turocy says . “ It ’s essential to take a comprehensive facial expression at their sexual wellness , considering not only hormonal factors but also psychological , emotional , and relational aspects . ”
Other potential causes of low sexual urge drive , such as stress , relationship problems , medication side effects , or underlie medical condition , like boldness issue or endometriosis , should be explored and speak before considering endocrine supplementation , she says .
last , do n’t ignore the top executive of healthy lifestyle modifications . “ put through healthy modus vivendi variety such as dieting and physical exercise can also boost energy level and ego - image perception resulting in increase libido , ” Burroughs say . According to astudy published in July 2021 in theJournal of Sexual Medicine , regular exercise one to six hours per workweek was associated with welfare in desire , foreplay , lubrication and sex - related distress in womanhood experiencing sexual dysfunction .
Kara Smythe , MD , has been working in sexual and reproductive health for over 10 geezerhood . Dr. Smythe is a board - indorse fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , and her interest include improving enatic health , check access to contraception , and promoting sexual health .
She graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a unmarried man ’s arcdegree in biology and realize her aesculapian degree from St. George ’s University in Grenada . She nail her abidance in OB and gynaecology at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn , New York . She lick in Maine for six long time , where she had the privilege of caring for an underserved universe . Smythe is also passionate about the fashion that public health insurance shape individual health outcomes . She has a master ’s stage in population health from University College London and of late nail a social science research methods master ’s degree at Cardiff University . She is currently working on her PhD in medical sociology . Her research examines people ’s experiences of accessing , using , and cease long - acting reversible contraception . When she ’s not wreak , Smythe enjoys dancing , photography , and spending time with her family and her cat , Finnegan .
Ashley Welch has more than a decennary of experience in both breaking news show and farsighted - form storytelling . She is passionate about getting to the crux of the latest scientific studies and sharing important entropy in an leisurely - to - digest way to well inform decision - devising . She has written about health , science , and health for a diverseness of outlets , includingScientific American Mind , Healthline , New York Family , Oprah.com , and WebMD .
She served as the health editor for CBSNews.com for several years as a newsman , author , and editor in chief of everyday health news article and characteristic . As a former stave member at Everyday Health , she covered a wide reach of chronic weather and disease .
Welch holds a bachelor ’s degree from Fordham University and a overlord ’s degree from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York , where she studied health and scientific discipline reporting . She enjoys yoga and is an aspiring contrabandist .
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